As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players
from different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy
that notion.
Considering that the Houston Oilers were founded in 1960, the task b
ecomes quite challenging. The franchise moved to Tennessee after the 1996
season. They remained the Oilers for 1997-1998 before being rebranded
as the Tennessee Titans.
In a nutshell, the Oilers left Houston because owner Bud Adams wanted a
fancy new stadium despite the Astrodome being the “Eighth Wonder of
the World.” He wasn’t popular, having gotten rid of popular head coach
Bum Phillips. He had NFL officials say the turf wasn’t safe to play on and
claimed that the city just didn’t care.
Today, I have taken on the daunting task of compiling an All-Time Oilers/
Titans team. The franchise won back-to-back AFL Championships in
1960-1961 but other than that, this has been a cursed organization. The
Oilers reached back-to-back AFC Championship games in 1978-1979,
only to lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the NFL’s great dynasties.
From 1987-1993, the Oilers made the playoffs six years in a row but
never reached the conference title game. In 1999, the Titans were on the
doorstep of winning the Super Bowl only to lose 23-16 to the St. Louis
Rams. The Titans reached the AFC Title Game in 2002 and 2019 as well.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to
have played at least four seasons as an Oiler or Titan. Since the free agency
era began 30 years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals
don’t make this list. Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making
this team. This is football, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame
is the first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number
of All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping
immensely. While I understand it is hard to compare eras, I’m not going to
convolute this discussion.
Generational reminders
All eras matter. Being on the Oilers and/or Titans from the Golden Age does
not get you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level
performers get considered.
To further the challenge, we are constructing the roster in two-deep format,
which means some worthy players get left off the list. So, if you want to
make a case for a player being on the team, don’t just tell me who should
be there and why, tell me who you would remove. Before you make a case
to put someone on the list, ask yourself, “Who do I take off the list at
that position?”
OFFENSE
QB -- First team: Warren Moon. Honorable mention: Steve McNair.
Moon went unselected in the 1978 NFL draft and played six years in the
Canadian Football League for the Edmonton Eskimos. Upon joining the
Oilers, Moon became a top-level quarterback on the way to a Hall of
Fame career, enduring numerous racial slurs in the process. At the time of
retirement, he held several NFL passing records. Moon played for four
different teams in his 17 year NFL career but his most defining were the
ten he spent as an Oiler from 1984-1993, leading the team to six straight
playoff appearances. As an Oiler, Moon was a Pro Bowler six times,
first-team All Pro once and NFL MVP in 1990. Moon became the first
black and undrafted quarterback to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Though McNair died in a murder suicide in 2009, he had a memorable
career as an Oiler/Titan. McNair was the No. 3 overall pick in the 1995
draft out of Div. I-AA Alcorn State. McNair was country strong and
tougher than a piece of rawhide. McNair is one of the best dual threat
quarterbacks in NFL history. He is second behind Moon in various
passing categories and also rushed for 3,439 yards and 36 touchdowns.
McNair spent his last two seasons as a Baltimore Raven but it’s his 11
(1995-2005) as an Oiler/Titan that people remember. In that span, he led
the Titans to a Super Bowl appearance. If Tennessee wins that game,
McNair might be in the Hall of Fame. He was a three-time Pro Bowler
and NFL MVP in 2003.
RB -- First team: Earl Campbell, Eddie George. Honorable mention:
Chris Johnson, Derrick Henry.
Campbell might be the most physical running back in NFL history.
Campbell was the perfect combination of speed, agility and brute strength.
He was a semi-truck in fifth gear if he got to the open-field. Campbell had
legs like tree trunks. Campbell is a Hall of Famer and spent seven years
(1978-1984) as an Oiler before being traded to the New Orleans Saints.
Though Campbell’s reckless abandon running style shortened his career,
he was a highlight film. Campbell was a five-time Pro Bowler, three-time
first-team All Pro, NFL MVP in 1979, three-time NFL Offensive Player
of the Year and NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1978. George is the
franchise’s all-time leading rusher and the definition of a workhorse. George
had four consecutive Pro Bowl seasons from 1997-2000, averaging 392
touches in that span. He was a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All Pro
(one as a first-teamer), NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1996 and
member of the 1999 team. Johnson was like a blur when he ran as
evidenced by his 4.24 40-yard dash time. Johnson was nicknamed CJ2K
because of eclipsing the 2,000 yard mark in 2009. Johnson had six
consecutive 1,000 plus yard seasons as a Titan. He was a three-time Pro
Bowler. In 2009, he was first-team All Pro and NFL Offensive Player
of the Year. Despite a slow start in his first two years, Henry is fast
morphing into a modern day Campbell. The last two seasons, Henry has
rushed for a combined 2,599 yards and 28 touchdowns. Henry led the
NFL in rushing in 2019 and carried the team to road playoff upsets
over New England and Baltimore.
FB -- First team: Hoyle Granger. Honorable mention: Charley Tolar.
Granger had two stints with the Oilers (1967-1970; 1972) with a year
as a New Orleans Saint in between. Granger surpassed the 1,000 yards
from scrimmage mark three consecutive years as an Oiler. Granger was a
two-time AFL All Star. Tolar was an original Oiler, playing the first eight
years of the franchise’s history. He contributed to back-to-back AFL
Champions in 1960-1961. Tolar was a two-time AFL All Star. In his
career, he rushed for 3,277 yards and caught 175 passes.
WR -- First team: Ernest Givens, Ken Burrough. Honorable mention:
Derrick Mason, Charlie Hennigan.
Givens was small in stature but the most prolific receiver in franchise
history. Givens played nine years as an Oiler (1986-1994) and is the
franchise’s all-time leading receiver. The two-time Pro Bowler and
one-time All Pro made the Electric Slide his touchdown celebration dance.
Burrough was an Oiler for 11 years (1971-1981) and led the franchise in
receiving until Givens broke various records. Burrough was a two-time
Pro Bowler who wore the jersey No. 00. Mason spent eight seasons
(1997-2004) as a Titan, including the 1999 campaign. Mason recorded
four consecutive 1,000 yard seasons and was a two-time Pro Bowler. He
was second-team All Pro in 2000. Hennigan was an original Oiler and
helped the franchise win two AFL titles. Hennigan was a five-time AFL
All Star, four-time first-team All AFL, and named to the all-time AFL
team.
TE --First team: Frank Wycheck. Honorable mention: Delane Walker.
Wycheck was both an Oiler and Titan. The first thing that comes to mind
is Music City Miracle. Wycheck threw the lateral pass to Kevin Dyson that
led to an improbable touchdown in a wild card win over the Buffalo Bills.
Wycheck is the franchise’s third all-time leading receiver. He was a member
of the 1999 team and a three-time Pro Bowler. Walker was recently released
after six seasons (2013-2019). Walker made three consecutive Pro Bowls
from 2015-2017. Walker’s best season was 2015 when he caught 94
passes.
OT -- First team: Brad Hopkins, Michael Roos. Honorable mention:
Dean Steinkuhler, David Stewart.
Hopkins is one of the most underappreciated players in franchise history
in part because he was overshadowed by McNair, George, Mason and
Wycheck. Hopkins was an Oiler/Titan for 13 years (1993-2005). He was
reliable by definition, missing just 14 games in 13 seasons. Hopkins was a
two-time Pro Bowler and All Pro once but should have been honored
many more times. At 6-7, 315, Roos was as big as the Smoky Mountains.
Though Roos had just one Pro Bowl season in ten years (2005-2014), he
missed just one start in his first nine years. Steinkuhler never received any
postseason honors but was a vital piece to an Oiler line that was one of the
best in the NFL in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Steinkuhler played all
eight of his NFL seasons (1984-1991) as an Oiler. Stewart was a career
Titan from 2006-2013. He was part of an offensive line that paved the
way for Johnson to have six straight 1,000 yard seasons, including his
2,000 yard campaign in 2009. Stewart 116 games.
OG -- First team: Bruce Matthews, Mike Muchak. Honorable mention:
Bob Talamini, Benji Olson.
Matthews and Munchak were perhaps the best guard tandem in NFL
history. Matthews was versatile enough to play all five offensive line
positions. Matthews is a Hall of Famer and played 296 games, including
232 in a row, both of which are franchise records. In his 19-year career
(1983-2001), Matthews was a 14-time Pro Bowler, nine-time first-team
All Pro and made the NFL All Rookie team in 1983. Munchak was a c
areer Oiler from 1982-1993 on the way to a Hall of Fame career. Muchak
was a nine-time Pro Bowl, including seven in a row from 1987-1993.
He was also a six-time All Pro (four as a first-team selection). Talamini
was an original Oiler who played eight years (1960-1967) and helped
the franchise win back-to-back AFL titles in 1960-1961. Talamini was a
picture of consistency and was All AFL six straight seasons. Olson never
received any postseason accolades in his ten years (1998-2007) but was
incredibly reliable, missing just five games after his rookie season.
C -- First team: Carl Mauck. Honorable mention: Kevin Mawae.
Mauck was the hub of the wheel on the Oilers offensive line for six
years (1975-1981) and was a huge reason for Campbell’s success. He was
also a big reason the Oilers reached back-to-back AFC Championship
Games in 1978-1979. Since Mawae is in the Hall of Fame, you could
make a case to put him first-team over Mauck. However, Mawae is
more synonymous as a New York Jet. Nonetheless, his years as a Titan
(2006-2009) were impactful. He made two Pro Bowls and was an All
Pro twice. Mawae also helped pave the way for Johnson’s running
success.
DEFENSE
DE -- First team: Elvin Bethea, Jevon Kearse. Honorable mention:
William Fuller, Derrick Morgan.
Bethea’s career as an Oiler spanned three decades (1968-1983), second
only to Matthews in service time with the franchise. Bethea is a Hall of
Famer and though sacks were not an official stat until 1982, the franchise
deemed that Bethea had 105. Bethea was an eight-time Pro Bowler and
five-time All Pro. Kearse had two stints (1999-2003; 2008-2009) with
the Titans. The other four years came as a Philadelphia Eagle. Kearse,
who was nicknamed “The Freak,” recorded 52 sacks in a Titans uniform
and was a member of the 1999 team. Kearse was a three-time Pro Bowler.
In 1999, he was first-team All Pro and NFL Defensive Rookie of the
Year. Fuller was a nightmare for quarterbacks in his eight seasons
(1986-1987) as an Oiler. His 59 sacks rank him fourth in franchise
history, including a 15 sack season in 1991. Morgan never received any
postseason honors but was very productive in his nine seasons (2010-
2018). Morgan tallied 44.5 sacks and 26 pass deflections.
DT -- First team: Ray Childress, Jurrell Casey. Honorable mention:
Curly Culp, Albert Haynesworth.
Childress was a stalwart by definition in his 11 seasons (1985-1995) as
an Oiler. He is second to Bethea in franchise history with 75 career sacks,
pretty good considering defensive tackle is not a stat-friendly position.
Childress was a five-time Pro Bowl on a team that had seven straight
postseason appearances. He was also a six-time All Pro (three as a first-
teamer). Casey recently signed a free agent contract to join the Denver
Broncos after nine glorious seasons as a Titan. Casey was a Pro Bowler
in each of the last five seasons and recorded 51 sacks. Culp was a
quintessential 3-4 nose tackle from 1974-1980. Culp consumed double-
teams and was a four-time Pro Bowler in his six years as an Oiler.
Though Haynesworth is widely known as a free agent bust with the
Washington Redskins, he had nine outstanding seasons (2000-2008)
as a Titan. Haynesworth was a force, recording 24 sacks and 271
tackles. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All Pro.
OLB -- First team: Robert Brazile, Keith Bullock. Honorable mention:
George Webster, Al Smith.
Brazile was both a strong edge rusher and tackling machine in his decade
long career (1975-1984) as an Oiler. Brazile is a Hall of Famer who ranks
second in franchise history in total tackles. Brazile started all 147 games in
which he played. Brazile was a seven-time Pro Bowler, six-time All Pro
(five as a first-teamer) and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1975.
Bulluck played a decade (2000-2009) as a Titan before spending his
final season with the New York Giants. Bulluck was a tackling machine,
ranking No. 3 in franchise history in total tackles. He also had 19
interceptions, 15 forced fumbles and 12 fumble recoveries. He was a
three-time All Pro. Webster was an Oiler for six years (1967-1972).
Webster was the AFL Rookie of the Year in 1972, three-time AFL
All-Star and member of the all-time AFL team. Smith played for the
franchise’s last ten seasons (1987-1996) in Houston. He led the team in
tackles as a rookie and for five consecutive years from 1990-1994. Smith
reached the Pro Bowl twice.
ILB -- First team: Greg Bingham, Wesley Woodyard. Honorable
mention: Doug Cline, Garland Boyette.
Bingham never earned any postseason accolades but was remarkably
consistent for 12 years (1973-1984). Bingham is the leading tackler in
franchise history. He also intercepted 21 passes. Woodyard played five
seasons (2014-2019) as a Titan. Woodyard’s role decreased in 2019 but
the previous four he was a reliable starter, missing just five games.
Cline was an original Oiler who was a member of back-to-back AFL
champions in 1960-1961. He was a two-time AFL All-Star and scored
three touchdowns on fumble recoveries. Boyette was an Oiler for seven
years (1966-1972). He was a two-time AFL All Star and is believed to
be the first black middle linebacker in NFL history. Boyette played in
the AFL, NFL, Canadian Football League and World Football League.
CB -- First team: Cris Dishman, Samari Rolle. Honorable mention:
Zeke Moore, Cortland Finnegan.
Dishman was a force for nine seasons (1988-1996). He intercepted 31
passes, second in franchise history and scored five defensive touchdowns.
Dishman’s best season was 1991, when he reached the Pro Bowl and
was named All Pro. Rolle benefited from having Blaine Bishop and
Marcus Robertson as a safety tandem but he was pretty good in his
own right. In seven years (1998-2004, Rolle intercepted 23 passes and
had 79 passes broken up. He was a Pro Bowler and All Pro in 2000.
Moore played all 11 seasons (1967-1977) as an Oiler. He intercepted
24 passes and scored four defensive touchdowns. Moore was an AFL
All Star in 1969 and a Pro Bowler in 1970. Finnegan was a Titan for
six years (2006-2011) and had 14 interceptions in that span. He also
scored four defensive touchdowns. Finnegan’s best season was 2008,
when he was a Pro Bowler and first-team All Pro.
S -- First team: Ken Houston, Blaine Bishop. Honorable mention:
Michael Griffin, Marcus Robertson.
Houston spent his first six years as an Oiler before getting traded to the
Washington Redskins. He was a gifted athlete. Houston intercepted 25
passes as an Oiler and returned nine for touchdowns. Houston was a Pro
Bowler and All Pro in five of his six seasons as an Oiler. Bishop was an
Oiler/Titan. Though undersized, Bishop was a hard-hitter for nine years
(1993-2001). Bishop was a four-time Pro Bowler. Griffin spent nine
seasons (2007-2015) as a Titan. In that span, he was a vital cog in the
Titans defense. Griffin was a member of the All Rookie team in 2007,
two-time Pro Bowler and second-team All Pro. Robertson was both
an Oiler and Titan for ten seasons (1991-2000) and was a vital cog in
both 1999 and 2000. Robertson had 22 career interceptions. He was a
two-time All Pro.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K -- First team: Al Del Greco. Honorable mention: Rob Bironus.
Del Greco is the franchise’s leading point scorer with 1,060 and he made
good on 83.4% of his kicks as an Oiler/Titan. In the Titans 1999 Super
Bowl run, Del Greco scored 32 points. Bironus is the second-leading
scorer with 1,032 points but leads in the Tennessee era. Bironus made
good on 85.6% of his field goals and was a Pro Bowler in 2007.
Bironus, who died in an automobile accident in 2014, also connected
on a 60-yard field goal.
P -- First team: Jim Norton. Honorable mention: Brett Kern.
Norton was an original Oiler and played nine years (1960-1968),
helping the franchise win back-to-back AFL Championships. Norton
was also a three-time AFL All-Star, three-time All AFL and was the first
player in franchise history to have his number retired. Norton also
averaged 42.1 yards per punt and also played safety, intercepting 42
passes. Kern recently completed his 12th season as a Titan and has been
a Pro Bowler in each of the last three years. He also has been named All
Pro twice (first-team in 2019).
RETURN -- First team: Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. Honorable
mention: Marc Mariani.
Kicking the ball to Johnson was risky business. Though diminutive at 5-9,
170, he was lightning fast. Johnson scored seven special teams touchdowns
in his seven years as an Oiler. He also established the touchdown dance
celebration of the 1970s. Johnson was a Pro Bowler and All pro twice as
an Oiler. Mariani had two stints with the Titans (2010-2013; 2016), in
between playing for the Chicago Bears. Mariani was a Pro Bowler as a
rookie in 2010. He totaled 5,041 return yards with three touchdowns.
HEAD COACH -- First team: Bum Phillips. Honorable mention:
Jeff Fisher.
Fisher is the longest tenured and winningest head coach but no one
personified the franchise, the state of Texas and the city of Houston like
Phillips. He wore a cowboy hat and cowboy boots on the sideline and
had sayings straight out of the Old West. Phillips’ teams were built on a
punishing ground attack and a salty defense. In Phillips’ six seasons, the
Oilers went 59-38 and reached the AFC Championship Game two years
in a row only to lose to the eventual Super Bowl champion Steelers. No
era personifies the franchise like “Love Ya Blue.” Fisher’s teams were
often similar to Phillips’ team. Fisher coached 17 years and compiled a
147-126 record, leading the franchise to their lone Super Bowl
appearance. The knock on Fisher is that while his teams had just six
winning seasons out of 17 with a lot of below average to average in
between.
TEAM -- 2000. The easy answer would be the 1999 team because it
came within one yard of potentially sending the Super Bowl to overtime.
Both teams went 13-3. The 2000 version lost 24-10 to the eventual Super
Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens but the reason this group gets the nod
over 1999 was because of talented upgrades, most notably Jon Runyan at
tackle and Randall Godfrey at linebacker. The defense yielded just 133
points and the three regular season losses were by a combined seven
points.
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